Lady Macbeth

• 'my dearest partner in greatness'


  • Superlative - Signifies the closeness of their relationship Lady Macbeth is the most important person in his life.
  • The phrase suggests that Macbeth sees Lady Macbeth as his equal, someone he respects and relies on - whilst in the Jacobean era women were submissive.
  • Phrase suggests that, at this point, Macbeth values her opinion and influence
  • It underscores their shared desire for power and ambition.
  • Foreshadows how Lady Macbeth will take an active role in pushing Macbeth toward kingship, even encouraging murder and his downfall.
  • A stark contrast to the later deterioration of their relationship, as Macbeth becomes increasingly paranoid and Lady Macbeth is cast aside.
• 'I fear thy nature is too full o' th' milk of human kindness' 'Art not without ambition, but without the illness that should attend it'


  • "Milk" is a metaphor for compassion, nurturing, and innocence—qualities typically associated with femininity.
  • By calling it "too full", she implies that Macbeth has too much kindness to commit murder a lacks the necessary ruthlessness.
  • This contrasts with Lady Macbeth herself, who later rejects femininity and nurturing (e.g., "take my milk for gall").
  • Lady Macbeth sees kindness as a weakness, not a virtue. She wishes to strip Macbeth of his morality to make him a ruthless king.
  • Metaphor -Represents the cruelty, deception, and violence that she thinks are necessary to secure the throne.
• 'what thou wouldst highly,that wouldst thou holily'

  • Lady Macbeth acknowledges that Macbeth desires power but he also wants to achieve it righteously..
  • She sees this conflict between ambition and morality as a weakness that could prevent him from taking the throne.
  • Lady Macbeth, however, rejects morality altogether and is willing to embrace darkness to achieve power.
  • Religious Imagery – "Holily' suggests moral purity and a belief in divine justice. - reflects how Macbeth, at this stage, still fears consequences—both earthly and spiritual.
  • Lady Macbeth, in contrast, abandons religious morality, even calling on dark spirits to "unsex" her.
• 'hie thee thither, that I may pour my spirits in thine ear'

  • Metaphor – implies a forceful, continuous flow, suggesting she will overwhelm Macbeth with her influence.
  • Suggests that she will indoctrinate him with her way of thinking, filling him with her own ruthless ambition.
  • "Spirits" refers to both supernatural forces and intoxicating influence, symbolizing her manipulative power.
  • The phrase echoes the image of poison being poured into someone’s ear - foreshadow how she sets off a chain of events that leads to their destruction.
  • Women were expected to be passive and submissive, but Lady Macbeth takes on a dominant, persuasive role.
  • This highlights the power dynamics in their relationship—Lady Macbeth is the dominant force at this stage, pushing Macbeth towards murder.
• 'chastise with the valor of my tongue all that impedes hee from the golden round'

  • "Chastise" suggests scolding or reprimanding, showing that she believes Macbeth needs to be corrected for his hesitation.
  • Metaphor – "Valor" means bravery in battle, but instead of physical courage like Macbeth, Lady Macbeth uses words as her weapon in the battlefield of their relationship.
  • This suggests that she will use persuasion, manipulation, and even verbal attack to ensure Macbeth follows through with murder.
  • Emphasises her dominance in their relationship, as she is the driving force guiding Macbeth.
  • The "golden round" symbolizes the throne and ultimate power.
  • Gold is often associated with wealth, divinity, and kingship, reinforcing the idea that she views the crown as something precious and worth fighting for.
  • However, gold also represents corruption, foreshadowing how their pursuit of power will lead to their downfall.
• 'the raven himself is hoarse that croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan under my battlements'

  • Metaphor – The Raven as a Harbinger of Doom, a traditional symbol of death and bad omens in literature.
  • Death itself is struggling to announce the terrible fate awaiting Duncan - shows how loved he is.
  • Imagery of the croaking raven adds an eerie tone, as croaking is often associated with dark magic and prophecy.
  • Possessive pronoun– suggests that Lady Macbeth sees the castle as her domain, reinforcing her power and control - shows her dominance over Macbeth—she is taking charge of the murder plot.
  • Dramatic irony is that Duncan believes he is arriving at a place of safety, while the audience knows it will be his place of death - enemy territory.
• 'Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here and fill me from the crown to the top-full of direst cruelty'

  • Imperative Verb – The commanding tone shows Lady Macbeth’s dominance and determination + emphasizes her desperation to gain power
  • Calling on evil supernatural forces, aligning with the supernatural and witches - Reflects the Jacobean fear of witches, making her seem unnatural and dangerous.
  • Superlative - She wants to be completely consumed by cruelty, leaving no room for guilt or hesitation - instead guilt consumes her.
  • Rejects traditional femininity, which in Jacobean times was associated with kindness, nurturing, and passivity.
  • She wants to rid herself of the weakness she associates with being a woman.
  • This challenges the stereotypical role of women and presents her as dominant and powerful, taking on a role typically given to men.
• 'Make thick my blood, stop up the access to remorse'

  • Metaphor – Blood is often associated with life, emotions, and guilt.
  • Links to the biological function of blood circulation, as if she is trying to stop her body from feeling emotions.
  • Thickening the blood suggests she wants to block out feelings of mercy and regret, making her cold and unfeeling.
  • However, blocking it leads to the cumulative build up of her emotions which instea drowns her.
  • This contrasts with later in the play when Lady Macbeth sees blood as a symbol of guilt showing how power corrupts both characters and ironically her being consumed by emotions is her downfall.
• 'Come to my woman's breasts and take my milk for gall'

  • Metaphor – Milk symbolizes nurturing, care, and motherhood, while gall (poison) represents bitterness, cruelty, and death.
  • She rejects the traditional passive role of women in Jacobean society and instead embraces masculine aggression and dominance.
  • Suggests she wants to replace kindness with cruelty, reinforcing the theme of ambition corrupting natural instincts.
  • Contrast between nurturing and poison mirrors how Macbeth’s reign, instead of being nourishing for Scotland, turns into a toxic, bloody tyranny.
  • Irony - Lady Macbeth believes removing her femininity will make her strong, but ironically, she later becomes overwhelmed by guilt, leading to her mental breakdown
• 'Come thick night, and pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell'

  • Personification – She addresses the night as if it were a living force which she is well acquainted with.
  • Imperative verb "Come" highlights her dominant, commanding nature, reinforcing how she takes control over Macbeth’s fate - Reflects her urgency and determination—she wants nature itself to assist in her sinister plan.
  • Metaphor – "Pall" refers to a funeral shroud -foreshadows Duncan’s impending murder, as well as the death of Lady Macbeth’s own morality and soul.
  • Superlative "dunnest smoke of hell" suggests that she wants to be enveloped in darkness to hide the act—not just literal darkness but also moral and spiritual blindness.
  • Religious imagery - calling upon Satanic or demonic forces reinforces her moral corruption.
  • Irony - She wants darkness to cover her crime, yet later in the play, she becomes obsessed with light, showing her fear of darkness and guilt.
• 'That my keen knife not see the wound it makes'

  • Personification –The knife is personified, as if it has eyes and awareness.
  • Lady Macbeth wants the weapon itself to be unconscious of the crime, just as she wishes to be emotionally detached from it.
  • This suggests a distorted morality—she knows murder is wrong but wants to ignore her conscience.
  • This reflects her attempt to suppress guilt, but later in the play, she fails and is overwhelmed by remorse.
  • She does not want to see the wound suggests inner conflict, showing that she is not as fearless as she pretends to be.
  • Foreshadows how she and Macbeth try to ignore the consequences of their ambition, but guilt inevitably destroys them both.
  • "Keen" implies sharpness and precision, reinforcing her ruthlessness. Knife is symbolic of her ambition.
• 'Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark to cry "Hold,Hold!"

  • Personification – Heaven is personified as a watchful force, symbolizing God, justice, and conscience.
  • "Peep" suggests an intrusive, almost childlike presence, as if heaven is spying on her sins.
  • Lady Macbeth fears divine intervention, showing that she knows what she is planning is deeply wrong as she is defyng the divine right of kings - making her seem evil to a Jacobean audience.
  • Metaphor – "Blanket" suggests something comforting, protective, and enveloping—Lady Macbeth wants darkness to shield her from guilt and consequences.
  • The contrast between "heaven" (light, goodness) and "darkness" (evil, secrecy) reinforces the play’s motif of light vs. dark.
  • Yet later, she consantly wants life as if needing its holy salvation.
  • Her downfall reinforces the moral message of the play—that those who defy divine order will inevitably face punishment.
• 'I feel now the future in the instant'

  • Lady Macbeth feels as though the prophecy is already fulfilled—she does not doubt Macbeth will be king.
  • This highlights her fatalistic mindset—she sees destiny as inevitable and does not consider the possibility of failure.
  • However, instead of waiting for fate to unfold naturally, she believes she can control fate by planning to kill Duncan.
  • Her hubris is tragic—she does not realize that trying to force fate will destroy her and Macbeth.
  • Juxtaposition – The contrast between "future" (something yet to come) and "instant" (something immediate) suggests Lady Macbeth’s impatience - Foreshadows her rash, reckless decision-making, which ultimately leads to disaster.
  • Lady Macbeth speaks in a way that blurs the lines between past, present, and future - shows how she, too, becomes manipulated by unnatural forces.
• 'Look like th' innocent flower but be the serpent under't'

  • Metaphor : Theme of Deception & Appearance vs. Reality - Lady Macbeth urges Macbeth to hide his true intentions and mask his ambition.
  • The contrast between the innocent flower (goodness, purity) and the serpent (evil, danger) shows how Macbeth must pretend to be loyal while secretly plotting Duncan’s murder.
  • This reflects a major theme in Macbeth: things are not always what they seem (e.g., “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”).
  • Biblical Allusion – The serpent is a reference to Satan in the Garden of Eden, who deceived Eve and led to mankind’s fall.
  • By using this imagery, Shakespeare suggests that Lady Macbeth is tempting Macbeth into evil, much like Eve being tempted by the devil. - This reinforces her manipulative role in the play and links her to supernatural or demonic forces.
  • Imperative Tone – The command "Look" shows her dominance over Macbeth. - subversing gender roles.
• 'You shall put this night's great business into my dispatch'

  • The imperative tone shows how she is commanding Macbeth, rather than acting as a submissive wife - rejecting traditional femininity and assumes a more dominant, masculine role.
  • Macbeth, the great warrior, is reduced to a follower in this moment, showing how Lady Macbeth dominates their relationship.
  • His passive role and lack of resistance suggests that he is easily manipulated.
  • Euphemism – "Instead of saying "murder", she calls it a "great business", softening the brutality of the act.
  • This shows how she views murder as a means to an end, treating it as a strategic plan rather than a moral crime.
  • It also reflects her cold, pragmatic mindset, as she does not yet show any guilt or hesitation.
• 'This castle hath a pleasant seat' 'The air nimbly and sweetly'

  • Dramatic Irony : Duncan’s Naïveté - Duncan believes he is arriving at a safe and hospitable place, but the audience knows it will become the site of his brutal murder, making his praise of the castle deeply ironic.
  • This highlights his trusting and overly optimistic nature, which ultimately leads to his downfall.
  • Appearance vs. Reality - The pleasant exterior of the castle contrasts with the evil lurking inside.
  • This echoes Lady Macbeth’s earlier advice to Macbeth: "Look like th’ innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t"—they have successfully created a false sense of security for Duncan.
  • The castle is a symbol of deception, appearing welcoming but hiding a deadly secret.
  • Pathetic fallacy - heightens the irony—the castle’s setting is beautiful and calm, yet it hides treachery and murder.
• 'See,See, our honoured hostess!'

  • The repetition of "See, see" suggests his enthusiasm and blind faith in others which makes his ignorance of the danger even more tragic.
  • Duncan speaks in a respectful and warm tone, reflecting his kind nature and generosity.
  • However, his kindness is also his weakness, as he fails to see the danger that surrounds him.
  • Theme of Appearance vs. Reality -Lady Macbeth appears to be a warm and welcoming hostess, but she is actually manipulative and deceitful.
  • This moment highlights how power does not always belong to the strongest warrior—sometimes, manipulation and deception can overthrow even the most respected leader.
  • Dramatic irony presents Duncan as an overly trusting and doomed king.
• Was the hope drunk wherein you dressed yourself?

  • Metaphor – L.M compares Macbeth’s earlier ambition and confidence to drunkenness.
  • She suggests that his hope was unstable and foolish, like a drunk person who regrets their actions once sober - impliying that Macbeth’s courage was temporary and unreliable, making him seem weak.
  • Metaphor – Hope is compared to clothing, implying that Macbeth put on ambition like an outfit but has now taken it off.
  • This suggests that his confidence was just a disguise, not something truly part of him.
  • Rhetorical Question - aims to shame Macbeth and make him doubt himself. - challenges his masculinity, implying he is cowardly and inconsistent.
  • Mocking & Scornful Tone - She belittles Macbeth, making him feel foolish for changing his mind.
  • Shows L.M dominance in their relationship as the use of pyschological manipulation pushes Macbeth into committing regicide as he desperately seeks her approval.
• 'Wakes it now to look so green and pale at what it did so freely?'

  • Personification – L.M personifies his resolve, as if it were a person who is now waking up frightened and sickly, making his hesitation seem ridiculous and pathetic, pressuring him to prove his bravery.
  • Color Imagery – "Green" is associated with sickness and cowardice.
  • "Pale" suggests fear and hesitation, implying that Macbeth has lost his boldness.
  • L.M contrasts this with his earlier confidence, implying that he was once strong but is now a weak coward,
  • His inconsistency and erratic pysche is like that of a hysteric woman = unmanly.
  • Rhetorical Question - aims to shame Macbeth into action.
  • She implies that he is afraid of something he was once eager to do, making him seem weak and indecisive.
• 'Such I account thy love'

  • Emotional Manipulation - Lady Macbeth links Macbeth’s willingness to kill Duncan with his love for her - She redefines love as action and commitment
  • She suggests that his hesitation reflects weak love, making him feel guilty and unworthy.
  • The implied ultimatum forces Macbeth into a lose-lose situation: either he kills Duncan or admits to being a coward and a bad husband.
  • Lady Macbeth attacks his emotions, using his love for her as a weapon to manipulate him.
  • Role Reversal : Challenging Gender Expectations - Lady Macbeth is the dominant force, urging Macbeth to be more ruthless and decisive.
• 'Letting "I dare not" wait upon "I would", like the cat in th' adage'

  • Contrast – Lady Macbeth contrasts Macbeth’s hesitation with his ambition - Suggesting indecision and weakness, making Macbeth appear cowardly for wanting something but lacking the courage to pursue it.
  • Simile – Lady Macbeth directly compares Macbeth to a fearful animal.
  • This dehumanizes him, making him seem weak and unworthy of his ambitions.
  • Alluding to the adage - Lady Macbeth is mocking Macbeth, implying that he wants to be king but is too afraid to act.
  • She equates his hesitation with cowardice, humiliating him into action.
• 'What beast was 't, then, That made you break this enterprise to me?

  • Metaphor – By asking "What beast was't?", Lady Macbeth implies that Macbeth’s earlier ambition was animalistic and instinctual—something not natural to him.
  • This dehumanizes him, making it seem as if his courage was a temporary, unnatural state, and his hesitation now is his true weak nature.
  • She suggests that his earlier promise to kill Duncan must have come from some "beast" (irrational force), since he now lacks the courage to follow through.
  • This implies that Macbeth is weak and untrustworthy, adding to his sense of shame.
  • Emotional Manipulation + Gaslighting - In reality, she has been the driving force behind the plan, but she twists the truth to make him feel guilty and obligated to act.
  • Rhetorical question to make Macbeth feel foolish and inconsistent.
• 'When you durst do it, then you were a man'

  • The conditional structure ("when... then...") suggests that Macbeth was a man before, but by hesitating, he is now less than one.
  • Lady Macbeth is redefining manhood on her terms, making Macbeth feel ashamed of his hesitation.
  • She twists his own beliefs against him, making him think that being a man means being ruthless and ambitious.
  • This gaslighting makes Macbeth doubt himself, further pushing him towards murder.
  • Lady Macbeth adopts traditionally "male" qualities of aggression and dominance.
  • She suggests that violence and ambition define a man, reinforcing the idea that Macbeth is not truly masculine unless he kills Duncan.
  • This role reversal highlights Lady Macbeth’s power over her husband, as she dictates what it means to be a man.
• I would...have plucked my nipple from its boneless gums and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done this'

  • Hyperbolic Violence – "The imagery is disturbingly brutal due to its gratuitous violence.
  • The hyperbole emphasizes her extreme loyalty—she claims that she would go to the most inhumane lengths to keep a promise.
  • This shocks both Macbeth and the audience, reinforcing her unnatural, almost monstrous ambition.
  • This innocent image of motherly tenderness is immediately destroyed by the violent act of infanticide, creating a disturbing contrast.
  • Shakespeare uses this to show how Lady Macbeth completely rejects traditional femininity—instead of nurturing life, she is willing to destroy it.
  • She emotionally manipulates Macbeth by implicitly saying if she can, why cant he?
  • This makes Macbeth feel ashamed and weak, forcing him to go through with the murder.
• 'bring forth men children only for thy undaunted mettle should compose nothing but males'

  • Macbeth implies that she is too fierce and ambitious to produce weak, gentle daughters.
  • Mettle is homophonous to metal - suggesting hardness and unbreakable strength - Lady Macbeth is made of pure steel—fearless and unyielding.
  • Irony - Earlier, Lady Macbeth questioned Macbeth’s masculinity, saying he wasn’t "a man" if he refused to kill Duncan.
  • Now, Macbeth returns the favor, implying that she is more "manly" than even he is.
  • This creates a role reversal, where Lady Macbeth appears stronger and more dominant than her husband.
• 'we shall make our griefs and clamour roar Upon his death'

  • . Dramatic Irony - the audience sees the falsehood, making their act more sinister.
  • Metaphor – "Griefs" and "clamour" are personified as something that can "roar," like a wild animal.
  • This suggests that their fake mourning will be loud, overwhelming, and theatrical, making it seem believable.
  • It also foreshadows the chaos that will follow Duncan’s murder—Macbeth and Lady Macbeth may fake grief now, but true madness and paranoia will consume them later.
  • Reinforces the idea that appearances can be deceiving.
  • oreshadowing
  • While they plan to "roar" with fake grief, later in the play, Lady Macbeth will become overwhelmed by real guilt, leading to her downfall.
  • The contrast between their false mourning and their later suffering shows the consequences of their ambition.
• 'Had he not resembled my father as he slept, i had done 't'

  • Conditional phrasing structure - Suggests that she was fully capable of murder but was stopped by an unexpected emotional reaction - highlights a moment of weakness, which contrasts with
  • She hesitates, showing that even she has limits to her cruelty.
  • This moment foreshadows her later downfall, where guilt overwhelms her and leads to her suicide.
  • Constrast : Earlier, Lady Macbeth called on spirits to "unsex" her and fill her with "direst cruelty", suggesting she wanted to abandon all femininity and compassion.
  • However, here, her natural emotions resurface, proving that she is not completely devoid of human feeling.
  • Juxtaposition – Lady Macbeth has just pressured Macbeth into committing murder, yet she herself is unable to do it.
  • This juxtaposes her manipulative strength with her personal hesitation, showing that her ruthlessness has limits.
• 'A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight'

  • Dismissive Tone - Shows that Lady Macbeth belittles Macbeth’s emotions.
  • She sees remorse as weakness, reinforcing her dominant role in their relationship.
  • Macbeth begins to feel guilt, while Lady Macbeth remains cold and pragmatic.
  • Juxtaposition –Macbeth is visibly shaken and haunted by his crime, Lady Macbeth, in contrast, rejects his guilt outright, showing that she is still emotionally detached from the murder.
  • Ironic - Later Macbeth will become apathetic whilst , she will become obsessed with guilt herself ("Out, damned spot!").
  • Her refusal to acknowledge guilt now makes her later breakdown even more tragic.
• 'Consider it not so deeply'

  • Imperative Command - Lady Macbeth gives a direct order, reinforcing her control over Macbeth.
  • The use of imperative language shows that she wants Macbeth to suppress his emotions and move on.
  • This reflects the theme of power and manipulation—Lady Macbeth is forcing her own perspective onto Macbeth.
  • Juxtaposition – Emotional vs. Logical Response
  • Macbeth is emotionally overwhelmed, already haunted by guilt.
  • Short sentence - Lady Macbeth remains cold and practical, refusing to engage with guilt at all.
  • Dismissive tone suggests that Lady Macbeth believes guilt is something that can be controlled, but guilt is inescapable and will consume both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in different ways.
• 'These deeds must not be thought after these ways. So, it will make us mad'

  • Imperative Tone - shows Lady Macbeth trying to control both Macbeth’s emotions and her own.
  • She treats guilt as something that can be simply ignored, reinforcing her pragmatic and ruthless nature at this stage.
  • This also reflects the theme of power and manipulation—Lady Macbeth commands Macbeth’s thoughts, showing her dominance over him.
  • Ironically, she will later suffer from hallucinations and guilt-induced insanity ("Out, damned spot!").
  • This suggests that guilt is not something that can simply be ignored—it lingers and destroys the mind over time.
  • Foreshadowing - Lady Macbeth unknowingly predicts her own downfall.
• 'Go get some water and wash this filthy witness from your hand'

  • Imperative Command - show Lady Macbeth’s dominance and control over Macbeth.
  • She speaks as if blood is just a minor inconvenience, reinforcing her pragmatic and ruthless nature.
  • This contrasts with Macbeth, who is already overwhelmed by guilt.
  • The blood on Macbeth’s hands symbolizes his guilt.
  • The phrase "filthy witness" suggests that the blood is evidence of their crime, but also hints at an invisible stain of guilt.
  • Lady Macbeth believes that washing it away will erase the consequences, showing her naïve belief in the power of denial.
  • This contrasts with Macbeth’s later realization that no amount of water can wash away their guilt.
  • Irony and Foreshadowing - Lady Macbeth believes washing her hands will remove guilt, but later, in her madness ("Out, damned spot!"), she will be tormented by an imaginary bloodstain that cannot be washed away.
• 'Infirm of purpose!' 'Tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil'

  • Metaphor – The "eye of childhood" is a metaphor for naivety, innocence, and fear.
  • Lady Macbeth is suggesting that Macbeth’s fear is childish—like a child's exaggerated fears of things that are not real or not as terrifying as they seem.
  • This highlights her view of masculinity: she equates Macbeth's inability to act without hesitation with a lack of strength or resolve. She believes that he is behaving weakly and is afraid of things that don't warrant fear.
• 'My hands are of your colour, but I shame to wear a heart so white'

  • Metaphor - blood symbolizes their shared crime and the corruption of their souls, but Lady Macbeth is trying to convince Macbeth that he should not let guilt overwhelm him.
  • Metaphor + colour symbolism - "heart so white" is a metaphor for cowardice and guilt. In the context of the play, the color white traditionally symbolizes innocence, purity, and weakness.
  • She doesn’t regret her actions and doesn’t feel the same moral qualms as Macbeth does. She is proud of her ruthlessness and sees any remorse as a form of weakness.
• 'O gentle lady, tis not for you to hear what i can speak'

  • Dramatic irony - Macduff speaks to Lady Macbeth as if she is innocent and unaware of the crime.
  • However, the audience knows that Lady Macbeth is the driving force behind the murder.
  • Macduff assumes that Lady Macbeth, as a woman, should not be exposed to the horrifying details of the crime because of the societal expectation that women should be protected from such harsh realities.
  • The contrast between Lady Macbeth's true nature (ruthless and ambitious) and the expectations of femininity creates a powerful juxtaposition of gender roles in the play.
• 'help me hence, ho!'

  • Exclamation – "Ho!" is often used in Shakespearean drama to call for attention or to signal distress.
  • It emphasizes her dramatic reaction and contributes to the illusion of her innocence and shock. It can be seen as part of her performance in front of the others, especially as she has just helped orchestrate the murder and now pretends to be horrified by it. - theme of appearance vs reality.
  • Dramatic irony - Her apparent distress is in stark contrast to her earlier cold and calculating demeanor.
• 'say to the king that i would attend his leisure for a few words'


  • Uses formal and polite language. The use of the word "leisure" conveys a sense of deference and respect, as if Lady Macbeth is trying to sound composed and respectful.
  • Contrasts how she used to speak to him without care of his position.
  • Can't talk to Macbeth direct;y - shows the growing gap in theyir relationship as the power balance shifts.
• 'Tis safe to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy'

  • Lady Macbeth says that it is safer to be the victim of destruction (like Duncan, who was murdered) than to live with the consequences of guilt and fear (which Macbeth and she now face) - perhpas showing her regret and the toll her ambition has taken on her.
  • Oxymoron - " conveys the emptiness and unease that Macbeth feels as king. The murder of Duncan was intended to bring Macbeth power and peace, but instead, it has led him into a constant state of anxiety and paranoia.
  • This creates a stark contrast between the momentary power Macbeth has and the deep-seated guilt that undermines his happiness.
  • Their ambition has left them in a moral quandary from which there is no escape.
• 'Come on my gentle lord'

  • Term of endearment gives a gentle and soothing tone as she tries to console Macbeth, starkly contrast her verbal attack on Macbeth as he chastises him for weakness.
  • In earlier scenes, Lady Macbeth was the one who showed ruthlessness and determination, pushing Macbeth to act on his ambition by murdering Duncan. However, here, she is the one attempting to comfort and reassure him - She is subtly slipping back into her expected gender role
• 'Be innocent of the knowledge dearest chuck'

  • Contrast between his appearance of care and Lady Macbeth's role in the earlier murders. In the beginning, she was the one urging him to act without remorse, now Macbeth overshadows her.
  • Ignores her power, condescending + patronising her as if she is a feeble woman. - Gender roles reverting.
  • Term of endearment, it also shows that Macbeth is asserting control over Lady Macbeth. By withholding information from her, he is asserting his autonomy and distance in their relationship.
  • His decision to exclude her from the knowledge of his plans also represents a growing distance between them. Macbeth no longer needs Lady Macbeth’s influence or guidance in his decisions and has begun to take a darker path on his own.
• 'This is the very painting of your fear' 'What, quite unmanned in folly?'

  • Dismisses Macbeth’s hallucination as "folly", suggesting that he is being ridiculous.
  • foreshadows her mental breakdown and eventual suicide - later in the play, Lady Macbeth herself will lose control, haunted by her own hallucinations.
  • reinforces traditional gender expectations, where stoicism and bravery were associated with masculinity, and fear was considered weak and feminine.